Vacuum cleaner



Sept. 16, 1969 K. G. GRELLSSONv ACUUM CLEANER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 19. 1967 QMS@ NMR, im. Tl

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JATTORNEY Sept 16, 1959 K. G. GRELLssoN 3,466,696

VACUUM CLEANER Filed July 19. 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M ATTORNEY 3,466,696 Patented Sept. 16, 1969 Inf. ci. A4115/22, 9/00 U.S. Cl. 15-327 1 Claim ABSTRACT F 'IHE DISCLOSURE A tank-type vacuum cleaner having an elongated casing is normally positioned horizontally on a surface and provided with a motor-fan unit for moving air in a path of ow between an air inlet and an air outlet. A shell is xed to the bottom of the casing and extends lengthwise of the cleaner which is supported for movement on the surface with suicient clearance for the shell. Air flowing in the casing from the air inlet passes through a first opening in the bottom of the casing into a space formed by the shell and ows lengthwise of the'cleaner through the space and is discharged laterally from the cleaner through a second opening which is formed in a vertical wall of the shell and defines the air outlet. A guide member is provided at the second opening to direct the discharged air upward at the side of the cleaner.

Brief summary of the invention In accordance with this invention an improved vacuum cleaner is provided in which air is introduced into the cleaner at an air inlet at one end of an elongated casing, and, after being moved therethrough, is discharged through an air outlet which is intermediate the ends of the casing and at the bottom thereof, whereby discharged air will be directed laterally from the cleaner Without disturbing settled dust at the vicinity of the cleaner.

This is accomplished by providing a shell at the bottom of the casing which defines a space in communication with the casing at a region which is removed lengthwise thereof from the air outlet. The shell includes a pair of runners or skids which extend lengthwise of the cleaner at the bottom of the casing. Each runner comprises spaced vertically disposed inner and outer wall members connected at their lower ends. A horizontal wall, which is spaced from the bottom of the casing, connects the top parts of the inner wall members of the runners.

The air discharge opening desirably includes two portions positioned at the opposing sides of the cleaner, each of which is formed by a notch in an outer wall member of a runner. The space defined by the shell is provided with bodies of porous material, such as foamed plastic, which effectively absorb and dampen sound developed during operation of the cleaner. The bodies of porous material within the space provide a passageway for air, the porous bodies serving to provide airtight seals for the air passageway.

The air discharged from both portions of the air outlet ows upward at the sides of the casing and tends to hug and remain closely adjacent to the outer surfaces of the cleaner. This tendency for the air to flow upward from both portions of the air outlet is aided by guide members or vanes which positively direct the discharged air up- Ward. Air filters comprising layers of air-permeable material are provided at the air discharge openings. The airpermeable material is fixed to a resilient frame member which is readily mounted on and removable from the cleaner at the air outlet. The air-permeable material is micro-porous in character and divides the air discharged upward from the space into a multiplicity of tiny streams.

Brief description of the several views of -the drawing In the drawing:

FIG. l is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, partly broken away and in section, .of the cleaner shown in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view, partly broken away and in section, of the bottom part of the cleaner shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is an end elevation of the cleaner shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the bottom part being broken away and illustrating a transverse sectional view taken at line 4 4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the bottom part of the cleaner taken at line 5--5 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 5 illustrating a hose connected to the cleaner.

Detailed description Referring to the drawing, the invention has been shown in connection with a horizontal tank-type vacuum cleaner 10 having a casing 11 including a top 12, bottom 14 and vertically extending side walls 11. The casing 15 is provided with a handle 16 and spaced elongated members 17 which extend lengthwise of the casing 11 along the bottom 14 and serve as skids to facilitate movement of the cleaner on a surface. Rollers 18 are journaled to the elongated members 17 intermediate the ends thereof to facilitate movement of the cleaner onto rugs and over door sills.

A front end cover 19 is removably secured in any suitable manner (not shown) to the casing 11 and formed with an inlet opening 20 to which a suction hose (not shown) is adapted to be removably connected. Suitable cleaning appliances may be connected to the outer free end of the suction hose and through which air flows into the casing. Within the casing 11 is provided a perforated partition 21, at one side of which is disposed a removable dust collector or dust bag 22 which acts yto separate dust from air as it flows therethrough.

Flow of air through casing 11 is effected by a motorfan unit 23 Which includes a centrifugal fan 24 carried at one end of an electric motor 25. The motor-fan unit 23 is suspended in casing 11 by structure 26 which provides a resilient mounting for the motor-fan unit and a seal between spaces 27 and 28 in the casing, the inner and outer peripheries of the suspension structure being respectively fixed to the motor-fan unit 23 and an inwardly extending flange 29 of the casing.

A switch 30 is located at the top of a rear hood or end cover 31 which is removably secured in any suitable manner (not shown) to the casing 11. The switch 30 is provided with an actuating button 30a whi-ch extends upward through an opening in the end cover 31 and is accessible at the exterior of the casing 11. The switch 30 forms part of an electrical circuit (not shown) for respectively connecting and disconnecting the motor 25 to and from a source of electrical energy in any manner well known in the art.

When the suction cleaner 10 is being operated and the fan 24 driven by the motor 25, dust-laden air is drawn through the suction hose into the interior of the casing 11. Dust collects in the bag 22, and air from which dust has been removed passes through the vdust bag and perforated partition 21 into the space 27. Air in the space 27 ows into the inlet 24 of the fan 24 from which it is discharged and ows through the shell of the motor 25 to effect cooling thereof, such air passing from the motor at end openings 25a thereof into the space 28 defined in part by the suspension structure 26 which bridges the gap between the motor-fan unit 23 and the flange 29. In this Way the passage formed between the casing 11 and the motor-fan unit 23 is closed by the suspension structure 26 and all of the air discharged from the fan 24 passes through the motor 25 into the space 28.

The space 28 is also defined in part by a partition 32 which is transverse to the axis c-c of the casing 11 and is impervious to air and fixed to the casing 11 in any suitable manner to form a seat at the end thereof and in which a part 31a of the rear end cover 31 nests when it is mounted on the casing. The end cover 31, which is cup-shaped, and transverse partition 32 form a compartment 31a` in which the switch 30 is located. When the rear end cover 31 is removed axially from the casing 11 to repair the switch 30 or provide a new one for the cleaner 10, for example, the transverse partition 32 remains in its mounted position on the casing 11 so that contact with the motor 25 is prevented. In this way the switch 30 can be inspected without disturbing the motor 25 by removing the end cover 31 of the casing 11.

In accordance with this invention air in the space 28 passes therefrom through an opening 34 in the bottom 14 of the casing 11 and flows lengthwise of the casing beneath the bottom thereof through a passageway 35 to a chamber 36 from which air is discharged exteriorly of the cleaner at opposing sides 15 thereof at outlets 37.

Each of the elongated members 17 at the bottom 14 of the casing 11 includes spaced outer and inner vertical walls 17a and 17b, respectively, the lower ends of which are bridged by bottom Walls 17e to form the skids which are U-shaped in transverse section. The outer walls 17a are of greater height than the inner walls 17b` and the upper ends of the inner walls are connected by a horizontal wall 17d which is vertically spaced from the bottom 14 of the casing and defines the bottom of the passageway 35 and the chamber 36.

The wall parts 17a, 17b, 17C and 17d may be stamped or otherwise formed from material like plastic or metal, for example, to form the elongated members 17. As best seen in FIG. 3, the members 17 increase in height from their ends to intermediate regions thereof at the vicinity of the chamber 36. The upper ends of the outer walls 17a may 'be formed with flanges 17e fixed to the bottom 14 of the casing 11 in any suitable manner.

The outer wall parts 17a of the members 17 are formed with elongated U-shaped openings 17f which extend lengthwise of the casing 11 between the opposing ends of the chamber 36. -An apertured frame or member 38, which is resilient in character and includes spaced axially extending ribs 38a and transverse ribs 38b, is provided at the vicinity of the chamber 36. The frame 38 includes a center portion 38C which bears against the bottom 14 of the casing 11 and side portions 38d which slope downward at an acute angle to the bottom 14 of the casing and at their extreme lateral edges are at the vicinities of the bottom edges of the U-shaped openings 17f. Elongated imperforate members 40 at the vicinity of the chamber 36 are provided at the lateral sides of the cleaner 10. The members 40 are beneath the side portions 38d of the frame 38 and slope upward from the horizontal wall 17d at 41 past the bottom edges of the elongated openings 17f and are fixed thereto at 39.

A suction cleaner accessory is often detachably connected to the air discharge opening 34 in the bottom wall 14 of the cleaner 10. The accessory may be a hose or a spraying device which is connected to one end of the hose, the opposite end of which is connected to the air discharge opening 34. As shown in FIG. 5, the horizontal wall 17d extending between the runners 17 is provided with an opening 42 which is directly beneath the opening 34 and adapted to be closed by a closure member 43 which may be formed of resilient material and detachably connected to the wall 17d at the opening 42, as by a snap t, for example. When the closure member 43 is removed from the horizontal wall 17d, one end of a hose 44, which is provided with a conventional end fitting 45, may be inserted through the opening 42 for detachably connecting the end fitting 45 in any suitable manner to the bottom 14 of the cleaner at the opening 34 therein, as shown in FIG. `6. When there no longer is any need to use the hose 44, it can be removed from the bottom 14 of the cleaner, and, after being withdrawn from the passageway 35, the latter again can be closed by the closure plate 43.

As shown in FIG. 3, the passageway 35 includes a first portion 35a which extends from the discharge opening 34 to the chamber 36 and a second portion 351;r which extends beyond the chamber 36 toward the air inlet opening 20. IBy providing the passageway 35 and chamber 36 at the bottom of the cleaner 10', the air discharged from the space 28 to the air outlets 37 flows beneath the casing 11 which is closely adjacent to the surface upon which the cleaner is supported. With this arrangement the noise generated during operation of the cleaner is effectively mufiied. Further, this mufiiing of cleaner noise is effected by structure provided beneath the cleaner 10 which normally is not employed for any other useful purpose other than to provide clearance between the bottom of the cleaner and the surface over which it is moved with the aid of rollers or skids or both.

The passageway 35 desirably is lined with porous material like foamed plastic, for example, to absorb and dampen noise developed by the cleaner 10 when it is being operated. As shown in FIGS 3 and 5, a body 46 of foamed plastic is provided at each side of the portion 35a of the passageway 35. The plastic bodies completely fill the runners 17 and portions of the gap between the bottom 14 of the cleaner and the horizontal wall 17d at each side of the passageway 35.

Similarly, the portion 35b of the passageway 35 is provided with a body 47 of foamed plastic, as seen in FIG. 3. The plastic body 47 completely fills the runners 17 and extends to the end of the casing l11 to which the front end cover 19 is detachably secured. The plastic body 47 is U-shaped in section, the gap between the arms of the U defining the portion 35b of the passageway 35.

It will be seen that the end walls 46a and 47a of the plastic bodies 46 and 47, at the vicinity of the air outlets 37, are perpendicular or normal to the longitudinal axis c-c of the cleaner 10' and are flush with the vertical edges of the U-shaped openings 17f formed in the outer wall parts 17a of the members 17. With this construction the end walls 46a and 47a of the plastic bodies 46 and 47 respectively cooperate with the bottom 14 of the cleaner 10 and the horizontal wall 17d between the member 17 to define the air outlets 37 at the opposing sides of the cleaner 10.

The ribs 38a and 3817 at the side portions 38d of the apertured frame 38 define enlarged openings of rectangular form which slope downward at an acute angle to the bottom wall 14. These enlarged openings formed in the frame 38 desirably are covered with suitable material 48 that functions as a very fine filter. The filter 48 may comprise one or more sheets of material, such as paper, cloth or the like, for example, which is formed of fibrous material which is permeable to air and impregnated or bonded with a plastic like polyacrylonitrile butadiene-styrene, for example. The filter 48 may be mounted on the side portions 38d of the frame 38 at the undersides of the ribs. The frame 38 may also be formed of a plastic like polyacrylonitrile butadiene-styrene.

The frame 38 formed of the plastic in the manner just described can easily be inserted into position in the chamber 36 and removed therefrom through the U-shaped openings 17f formed in the wall portions 17a. The extreme lateral edges 38d of the side portions 38d of the frame 38 are bent to provide upward extending flanges which seat in similarly formed bent portions 4001 formed at the extreme lateral edges of the elongated imperforate members 40. With this construction the extreme lateral edges 38d of the side portions 38d of the frame 38 and extreme lateral edges 40a of the imperforate members 40 provide an airtight seal therebetween and the transverse ribs 38b at opposing ends of the side portions 38d of the frame 38 snugly fit against the end walls 46a and 47a of the plastic bodies 46 and 47, respectively.

During operation of the cleaner air is discharged at the air outlets 37 in the manner indicated by the arrows A and B in FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively. The air discharged from the air outlets 37 tends to move upward in paths of iiow which hug and are closely adjacent to the outer surfaces of the side walls of the casing 11. The elongated imperforate members 40 which slope upward at an acute angle at 41 toward the bottom edges of the openings 17f of the wall parts 17a also function as guides or vanes to direct the discharged air upward at the air outlets 37. With this arrangement objectionable blowing of dust from the floor adjacent to the air outlets 37 is avoided for all practical purposes.

The ne filter 48 serves to remove line dust particles from air emerging from the opening 34. The air-permeable filter 48 preferably is micro-porous in character and also serves as a diffuser. The portions 35a and 35b of the passageway 35 and the chamber 36 therebetween collectively form an enlarged housing at the bottom of the cleaner 10 which functions as a diffusing space. Hence, While air flows through the opening 34 at a relatively high velocity during normal operation of the cleaner, the rate at which air moves in the diffusing space is considerably less. Since the overall cross-sectional area of the lter 48 is materially greater than the cross-sectional area of the discharge opening 34, the air is sub-divided into a multiplicity of tiny streams at the lter 48 which are discharged from the outer surface thereof over its entire area. With this construction air is discharged at a reduced velocity at the air outlets 37 through the filter 4'8. This fact, coupled with the fact that the air is directed obliquely upward at opposite sides of the cleaner 10 at the air outlets 37, insures that settled dust in the immediate vicinity of the cleaner 10 will not be disturbed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a-tank-type vacuum cleaner having, in combination,

(a) structure which normally is horizontally disposed and provided with an air inlet and an air outlet and has a path of flow for air therebetween,

(b) means in said structure for moving air in said path of flow from the inlet to the outlet,

(c) means for supporting said structure for movement on a surface with the bottom of said structure spaced from the surface,

(d) said structure including an elongated casing and wall means defining a space which is at the bottom of said casing and in communication therewith,

(e) said wall means having an opening intermediate the ends of said casing which defines said air outlet for discharging air from said space in a direction from the surface which avoids disturbing settled dust at the immediate vicinity of the cleaner,

(f) said wall means defining the space including vertically disposed wall members at opposing sides of the casing which depend downward from the bottom thereof, one of said wall members having the opening intermediate the ends of said casing which defines said air outlet, the other of said wall members having an opening intermediate the ends of said casing which also defines said air outlet,

(g) a frame extending through the space between the openings in said wall members, said frame having one portion bearing against the bottom of said casing and other apertured portions provided with airpermeable filter material disposed at the vicinities of the openings and in the path of iiow of air discharged from the openings,

(h) a guide members sloping upward at an acute angle to the horizontal at the vicinity of each of the openings, the upper part of each guide member being disposed at the lower edge of a different one of the openings,

(i) each of the other apertured portions of said frame sloping downward at an acute angle to the horizontal and overlying a diiferent one of the guide members, and

(j) the upper part of each of the guide members being bent to receive and yieldingly hold the outer edge of a different one of the other apertured portions of said frame.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,639,001 5/1953 Meyerhoefer. 2,656,097 10/ 1953 Sheahan. 2,716,465 8/ 1955 Meyerhoefer 15-330 X 3,344,588 10/1967 Szabo 15-326 X ROBERT W. MICHELL, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

